March 1, 2024 Newsletter

With spring approaching, my office will continue to work with residents and community associations to implement a number of traffic calming measures throughout the Ward.  Not unlike other elected City officials, the number one concern that I hear on a regular basis concerns speeding and traffic.

Speeding and driver behaviour are major concerns for all Ottawa residents. Each year, numerous inquiries are received by my office in pursuit of traffic calming measures to address these issues.  Over the past few months, I have been consulting with individuals, school administrators, and community organizations to identify traffic calming solutions in all neighbourhoods across Rideau-Rockcliffe.  In the next few months, you will see the seasonal installation of traffic calming measures throughout the Ward based upon these consultations and resident inquiries.

Traffic calming measures that will be implemented across Ward 13 will include:

• Speed display devices (permanent or temporary)
• Pavement markings such as, but not limited to, speed limits, "School/École", "Slow/Lent"
• Flexible centreline signage
• Cycling delineators
• Flexible posts to create bulb outs or chicanes; and
• Warranted Pedestrian Crossovers (PXOs)

I am pleased to continue to work with community members to address granular traffic issues.  Due to public input, I am pleased that the City committed to conducting a Local Neighbourhood Traffic Calming (NTC) study along North River Road (between Donald Street and south of Wright Street) due to concerns raised by the residents about speeding, pedestrian safety, and aggressive driver behavior. The purpose of an NTC study is to address community concerns related to traffic on existing local and minor collector streets within neighborhoods. The NTC studies do not involve the redesign or reconstruction of an entire street but focus on key localized roadway modifications and spot retrofits. Previous NTC studies have resulted in the implementation of various traffic calming measures and other permanent roadway modifications.

I am also pleased that my office worked cooperatively with the Lindenlea Community Association in early January 2024 to achieve the removal of two 50 km/h speed zone signs in front of St. Brigid School on Springfield Road between Rockcliffe Way and Lindenlea Road.  Working in conjunction with the Association, my office also secured the removal of 50 km/h signs on Springfield Road between Lindenlea Road and Rideau Terrace.  In terms of traffic calming, I will continue to investigate new measures, including the installation of thermoplastic road decals, to increase motorist awareness of the school zone.

My office is also currently working with the school principals at St. Michael School on Donald Street in Overbrook and Manor Park School to reduce speeding and improve student drop off.  We have committed to working with those schools and surrounding neighbours and community organization to make those areas safer.  We will also continue to work with the New Edinburgh Community Alliance on improvements to a number of intersections they have identified throughout that neighbourhood.

The above is not an exhaustive list since we remain committed to working with every inquiring resident and community to improve traffic safety.  It is important to note that the City has a number of countermeasures it can apply to discourage speeding and other aggressive driving behaviours. In residential areas, we have implemented speed bumps or humps, which are less aggressive, narrowed streets, and curb extensions. We will continue to pursue the implementation of such traffic calming measures this upcoming Spring to enhance public safety and quality-of-life.

Rideau-Rockcliffe News, Events and Engagement Opportunities

Rideau River Flood Control Operations

Every year, the City of Ottawa’s Roads and Parking Services team works in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority to prepare for its annual Rideau River Flood Control (RRFC) operations and blasting. This unique process that has been in place since the late 1890s, puts our team on the ice – first to clear the snow, then to cut the ice and finally to blast it. These operations are critical to mitigating the risk of flooding in the communities along the Rideau River. 

Don’t look now, but spring is on the horizon and operations are officially underway! On February 9, a portion of the Rideau River Flood Control team was mobilized and began preparing equipment and drilling test holes at several locations throughout the river corridor. This winter season has seen less snow, warmer temperatures during the day and frigid temperatures at night, and as a result, our work looks different than in previous years. Despite this, the team has been monitoring the ice thickness and preparing for flood control operations. The preliminary steps have concluded and today, the team is working proactively by cutting keys in select areas where the ice is thicker. To ensure everyone’s safety, we are reminding residents to stay off the ice for the remainder of the winter season.

A unique Rideau River flood control season is upon us

In a normal flood control season, the cutting of the keys would have already been completed and the team would now be getting ready for scheduled ice-blasting. However, we’ve adjusted operations and shifted to a monitoring response model where the team will be on standby prepared to respond to the conditions accordingly. This means they will be keeping a close eye on the rapidly changing ice conditions and the rate at which the river water is flowing, especially near bridges or in areas where the river narrows.

Controlled ice blasting

Although this year’s weather is creating uncharted river conditions, the risk of flooding remains, and blasting may occur. Should an area become at risk, unscheduled blasting operations will be performed to break the ice and allow it to continue its course down the river corridor. If blasting is not required, the team will deploy the amphibious excavator whose role is to break away any ice that remains on the Rideau River. At this time, it’s unsure what the coming weeks will look like and what steps we will need to take next, but it will be different from previous years. For everyone in nearby communities, rest assured, the team is ready to do what is necessary to get the water flowing to mitigate the risk of flooding.  

Click here for details.